Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-26 at 17:08

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HEADLINES
- Israel Kills Hezbollah arms smuggler in Lebanon
- IRGC Quds Force linked to European attacks
- Abbas names Hussein al-Sheikh temporary successor

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At 1:00 PM, this is the hourly update on developments across the Middle East and related global responses. The Israeli military says it carried out operations near the border with Syria in southern Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah weapons smuggler and a local Hezbollah representative believed to be coordinating arms transfers. The targeted individuals were described as linked to Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild and expand its arsenal, with one figure identified as a conduit for weapons moving from Syria into Lebanon. The raids underscore Israel’s continuing focus on disrupting cross-border smuggling networks and Hezbollah’s logistics in the border region.

In a set of international public statements and debates, a Canadian Liberal member of parliament called for screening of IDF soldiers entering Canada, arguing that service should be examined to ensure no involvement in breaches of international law before entry. The remarks reflect ongoing conversations in several democracies about how to evaluate foreign military personnel amid complex regional conflicts and interpretations of international norms.

Back in Israel, a court in Jerusalem ordered four suspects involved in the September arson attack near Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence to be released to house arrest following a hearing over the weekend. The case adds to a number of security-related investigations tied to high-profile incidents inside Israel in recent months.

In the Gaza border region, the Israeli military reports that a vehicle or convoy incident resulted in injuries to twelve soldiers during an operational activity. Of the twelve, two were moderately wounded and ten were lightly wounded; all were evacuated to hospital and assigned to follow-up medical care. The incident highlights the continuing risk environment along the border as Israeli and allied forces conduct ongoing security operations in and around Gaza.

A senior Israeli diplomat described the current landscape as one in which the Abraham Accords could broaden further in the region, even as Hezbollah and Hamas remain in a reconfigured strategic position. The diplomat said Israel will push for the demilitarization of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas as conditions in the second part of the US-brokered Gaza framework. The comments reflect a view that security constraints and disarmament would shape next-stage arrangements in the wider Gaza context, even as regional actors recalibrate their positions.

On the domestic legal front, the attorney general criticized a bill that would allow the Knesset to interfere in criminal proceedings against a prime minister or other sitting ministers, calling the proposal a dangerous opening for the balance between political processes and judicial independence. The exchange signals ongoing tensions in Israel over the intersection of law, governance, and political leadership.

In a lighter note with enduring public interest, a soft-shelled turtle named Shalom was rescued from the Jordan River after becoming entangled in wires and swallowing two fishing hooks. The incident drew attention to wildlife rescue efforts in the region, a reminder of environmental concerns coexisting with security and political developments.

From the broader regional and international arena, the Times of Israel reported that Israel has publicly identified Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force leader behind a string of attacks on Jewish targets in Europe, Australia, and beyond. Senior IRGC Quds Force commander Sardar Ammar was described as directing a transnational network tied to vandalism, arson, and plots against Jewish site

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Published on 1 week, 2 days ago